Method of treating ores and the like.



N. C. GHRISTENSEN, Jn. I

N. C. GHRISTENSEN, Jn. vMETHOD 0F TREATING ORES AND THE LIKE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAB. 26, 1913. 1,075,01 1. Patented oct. 7, 1913.

N. G. CHRISTENSEN, Jn. METHOD 0F TRBATING oREs AND THB LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 26, 1913.

Patented 001'.. '7, 1913.

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Patented on; 7, wie.v

Appiicmumeenmii 26,1913;- sermiw. 757,002.

' To alt akami-t mayconcem:

Be' it-lmown that I, Nmls- G. CHRISTEN# snor, Jr.,f.a citizen ofthe'United States, re- .at' SaltLake City,tin the county of Salt certainnew-and useful.' Improvements in Methods of Treating Orcs and the like,of. which the following is a full, clear, and

vaporizin collection of elements or conipci' s mixed with such materialsor formed by reactions in the 'mass of material undergoingV treatment,and to the leaching and recovery of the vaiuable metals-or' comundstherefrom. The method is more particularly intended for use in the'treatment of low .grade oresV containing gold., silver-,.copper, lead,nickel or zinc, but is economically applicabie in many casesto otherores; so that I do not desire to be limited toany particular metal o rmetals; element or elements, nor tothe grade of the ores or materialtreated.

The invention contemplates the heating andcoolin'g of ore and the likeinsuch a manner that the duration and tem' v rature oftreatment may becontrolled with relative accuracy, and the character .of the atmosphereor gaseous medium with which the said substance or substances are inContact, dnringeach successive step or 'stage ofthe process may also lbeunder positive control. Thus, by Way of illustration-,it is possible by,means of the herein described methodand'npparatus to hea-t a mass of oreto Vbe treated at substantially a given temperature and! underdetermined atmospheric condi-l tions and thereafter to cool said massdown towagiven lower temperatnrein the.pres-. ence of .anatmospherehaving:` asimilar. or.

diderent character, :is desired, to I thatto which .the mass was.' rstsiibjfected, the tem pera ture aand duration' .ofxtreatment beings atoperator;

e' and State of Utah, have invented- 'roastinigand leaching by proventi.'escape .and continually' restoring't mi to cure'a highefi'iciencyin'icausing the chemica/l reactions desired in this" part ofi theprocess.

My method also aims at' securingta veryv high heat eciency, withsubstantially' a minimum consumption of tuch-by conserv 'ing much of.the heatfener heretofore llost or wastedifin the ores and gasesdisclialrgedA from masters and similar' ore'treating apparatus.

My inventionv further' contemlates the treatment otthe ore, for thelike, .with vari- ;ous chemical :reagents adapted to'react therei .withvto prepare it for leaching outthe valuable metals containedtherein-witli suitable Vsolvents or reagents.A The method also 4aimste-volatilize'ior vai' iporize certainelements cit-chemical comb poundspreparatory tocollecting them-:for

.subsequent treatment and-fori use in leach-v iing; the l ores, therebypreventing, loss of? Ichemicals and values. An especially ad gvantageousfeature. ot the process isthatv it-hese fumesare collectedl'comparai-tively free from dust.

The invention especially conte conservation of the chemicals u lates theboth -f im f their active use in the system. l The inventionalsocontemplatestherc- `duction of' the metals t'o the metallic stateforconcentration, with suitablel apparatus, in the case of certain onessuited to such. treatment. y

These and the other objectsfof-my iii-venltion, and the steps of thenovel process` `whereby they may be attained, will herein-v after bemore fully described 4and lmore spe-4 ciiica-lly referred to in theclaims appended to this description.

In the drawings -whichiform apart'hereofI I have eXemplied-a-typcofapparatusPa-'s .embodying special advantages amid new fea tui-es whicharesct-` forth in the following;

description and though have1shdwn this special .form of apparato@ for.carrying: out. my process, I dornctdesireftorbelimited .to this.eizactform alone, Aiis-,Illy Process :may 'be' carried. outadvantageously in 4 other. forme ofapparatua.-4 The-advantages andspecial featuresA of.the-apparatuafwillbefset'foi'th in detail. in the,vtolflcwngf. description. Il am# aware', Various- 1 iliary apparatus;Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. l

on the line 2 2; Fig. 3 is a plan similar to Fig. 1 with portions of thedevice removed; F ig. 4 is an enlarged section on the llne 4 4 lof Fig.1;l Fig. `5 1s an enlarged detail showing the sand seals'.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

r1`he same'numbers refer to the same parts in all the figures'.

The apparatus shown is composed of an annular deck (1), which consistsof a cast iron frame (2), carrying a perforated grate (3). This grate(3) may consist'of woven wire, perforated sheet steel, or perforatedCast iron as necessary according to the temperature and character of thegas to which it is subjected. Upon the lower side of the deck, andextending around the deck near each edge, are the rails (4) 'whichsupport the deck upon 'the wheels (5) which are spaced at suitableintervals on the outer and inner edge of the ring. The bearings (6)support thewheels (5).` The annular deck is also tied to the centralpillar (7) by the rods (8), which are fastened to the collar (9) whichturns on the pillar (7). The deck is rotated about the central pillar(7) upon the wheels (5) by'means of t-he driving mechanism (10) and therope (10') which encircles the deck. Beneath the deck is an annularsealed space divided into twoy portions (11 and 12) by the widepartitions (13 14). The part (11) is beneath the cooling portion orstage of the apparatus and the part (12) beneath the heating or roastingportion or stage. These spaces are sealed rom the outside air by the oreabove, the foundations beneath, and upon the sides the seal is completedby the two short concentric cylinders or plates (15) which are attachedto the sides of the deck (1) and move in the concentric annular sandseals (16) as the deck rotates. Above the deck is the stationary annularhood (17-18), supported by the columns and beams (19). It

is divided into two chambers (2O and 21) by the partition (22), the part(20) being above the cooling stage of the deck and the part (21) abovethe heating or roasting stage. The partition (23) closes the hood 17 gand the partition (24) closes the hood (18 on opposite sides of the openspaces for charging and discharging the ore and observing the ore as itgoes into and comes out'of the apparatus. The partitions (22, 23 and 24)extend down almost to the top of the charge. The ore is charged onto theslowly revolving deck or hearth in a uniform layer from the hopper (25)and removed from the deck by the ixedscraper outer end. The fan (28) isconnected to the l space (11) beneath the cooling stage or portion ofthe deck by the pipes'` (29). -The s ace (20), above the cooling portionof the dieck, is connected to 4the fan (31) by the pipe (32) (see Figs.1 and 6). The vpipe (33) connects the fany (31) with the pipes (34 and35) which lead to the combustion or heating chamber (36). In the caseshown coal is used for heating the gases, and is supplied at the properrate by the American Stoker (37). If gas or oil are used the stokerwould be replaced by suitable pipes or burners supplying oilr or gas.The pipe (35) vleads from the main pipe (33) to the stoker and the pipes(34) through the vents (38) to the chamber (36) above the Stoker. Theproportion of the air or gas supplied by (31),' which passes through thestoker and the vents (38), is regulated by the dampers (40). In case oilor gas is used instead of coal the stoker would be replaced by a gas oroil burner of suitable design. 4The chamber (36) opens into the space(12) beneath the heating or roasting part or stage of the deck. Thespace (21), abo-ve the roasting or heating part or stage of the deck, isconnected to the condensing tower (41) by the pipe (42). The hoods andpipes may be made of sheet iron, cast iron or refractory material andmay be suitably lined to withstand the temperature and gases in eachcase.

The mode of operation is as follows: The hopper (25) is kept suppliedwithv ore moistened with a suitable portion of water or mill solution soas tov give a light permeable mass. As the deck (1) rotates continuouslyat the proper speed in the direction shown, the ore is fed in a uniformlayer upon the deck and passes into the heating or roastin part or stageof the furnace (12 21), an

after being heated passes into the4 cooling part or stage of the furnace(l1-20). The heating, or roasting, and cooling are brought about in thefollowing manner: In the case of an oxidizing or chloridizing roast thecold air is forced byv the fan (28), throu h ore in the cooling chamber,and abstracts t e heat therefrom, becoming thereby heated itself. Thisheated air is drawn from the chamber (20) by Ythe fan (31) and forcedthrough the chamber (36) where part of it reacts exothermically with thefuel (coal, oil or gas), supplied by the stoker or oil or be accuratelycontrolled by the speed of revolution of the deck. The high. heat ellil.of great importance ,in reducing the loss of chemicals. Thou h theamount of gold or' silvervolatilized 1n a chloridizing roast by thismethod is relatively insignificant as compared with the ordinarychloridizing roast, their escape is prevented byl passage of the gasesthrough the tower (41).` The great importance of collecting the acidelements and compounds generated in the roast andthe excess chemicalsmixed with the ore and driven oil" during the roast will appear in thedescription of the complete treatment of an ore containing gold, silver,copper and lead as given below.

The ore is mixed with the proper portion oi salt and pyrite, or othersuliid, to give the chloridizing reactions, and ground to the properfinen'ess. The mixture is then moistened with suiiicient mill solutionto give a loose, permeable mass. In some cases the mixture of suliids isunnecessary and' deleterious and is therefore omitted. The mill solutionwill consist ordinarily of an approximately saturated solution of NaClwith sufficient HCl to act upon the Cu and Pb. If possible the solutionis preferably saturated with NaCl, MgCl2 and CaCl2. In this case verylittle salt need be mixed with the ore as the solution will containSullicient of the chlorids to give the chloridizing action. The percent. of solution will vary from .6 to 15% according to the lineness ofgrinding. The ore is then continuously charged in a uniform layer uponthe revolving deck from the feed hopper (25), and is roasted at theproper temperature and cooled by passing through the roasting andcooling portions of the furnace, and discharged by the screw conveyerinto the box (27) which feeds a belt conveyer or other device forcarrying the ore to the leaching department (not shown).

The thickness of the layer of ore charged upon the deck will vary from 3to 18 inches according to the fmeness to which the ore is ground, thefiner the ore the thinner the layer must be in order to secure maximumcapacity, as the permeability decreases and weight of the laverdecreases with the finelness, and therefore reduces the maximum pressurewhich may be used to force the gases through the charge without anydanger of blow-holes in the layer of ore. The

, ore is then charged into wood lined chlorination barrels with theproper amount of mill solution and enough chlorin or bleaching powder todissolve the gold and agitated .upon scrap iron.

from two to six hours. The action of the solutionls 1n general, asfollows: The Cl dissolves the go d, the chlorids dissolve the silverchlorid formed in the roast, the acids (mainly HC1) t dissolve the Cuand the'acid salt solution .dissolves the Pb. The solution in the barrelis also active in chloridizing some of' 'the' silver not `acted upon inthe roast.' Thefrich solution is then filtered olf and the orewashedgwith-barren mill soluF tion, and finally with water to displacethe :millsolution remaining in the ore, so that but little acidand'chlorids are lost in the tailings. VThe'rich solution is piped totheprecipitating department where the gold and silver are precipitatedlupon copper -in wooden boxes or filtervv presses. From here the solutionpasses to the iron tower or; boxes Where the copperV and lead andremaining gold Iand sllver are precipitated From the precipitatingdepartment the solution passesto the condensing tower (41) where theacid fumes,

`driven out of the moist ore 'and the acid fumes generated in the roast,vare collected. From the tower, part of the solution goes to moisten theore before charging and the remainder to the leaching department.l Theferrous iron salts introduced into the solution from the copper and leadprecipitating department are changed to the ferrie conditio-nv in thetower. If this action is not complete, enough Cl must be added in thebarrels to prevent precipitation of the gold. If possible just enoughfresh water is used in the final washing to make up for the amountdriven 0E in the roast and by evaporation, etc., and a relativelyconcentrated solution of NaCl, CaClZ, MgCl2, with-the proper per cent.of HC1 is used for the mill solution. Very-little acid is consumed inthe process, since the iron salts in the solution used to moisten theore are decomposed in the roast and the acid elements returned to thesystem. .As amount of solution used in moistening the ore averages about10 to 12%, the iron salts are removed from the solution about every tendays if the amount of solution in the system is equal to the amount ofore treated per day. From the above itis apparent that the amount ofsolution in the system should be kept as low as possible.

The advantage of using a concentrate solution of NaCl, CaCl2 as a millsolution is due to the fact that the solution used to moisten the orewill then usually carry enough, or almost enough, chlorids to give theproper chloridizing eiect in the roast, and most of the undecomposedchlorids in the roastedv ore will be returned to the mill solution bythe wash water (which could not ordinarily be done if salt alone wereused) thus materially cutting down the amount of'salt lost in theprocesa The ques-` :dit

dll

tion ofoost and availability ywill necessarily' determine whetherNaClwill be used alone or with CaCl2 or MgCl2 in the mill solution, andI do not wish to limit myself to the use of any one of these or anyspecial combination' ofvthem, but preferably I use la solution icontaining all three. The amount of chlo- .rids lost in the processiealso comparatively 2 small, since the undeoomposed chloride used! in theroast are returned lto the system by the wash water. The slight lossesin acid and chlorids may bev largely made up by the .addition of theacid and bleaching powder .necessary to lcause the solution of Ithegold. The final .losses in chloride are made up .by the mixture lofsuiiicientsalt with the ore before .roasti and the loss of acid `by addjing acid 'to e solution -at the barrels 'or tower.

The great lemo-iene. and economy of the process and `the .nove ty of thecombination of .features imvolvedl will appear trom 'the followingAresults which it secures high heat eliiciency by delivering both the.one and gases :from the furnace at la low `tcm perature.: .highchemical efficiency by the accurate 'control of the temperature andduration of treatment, and also to the-intimate contact of the ore W-ith4the chemical reagents and gases z' reat'economy of fuel due to the highheat e ciency and the relatively lovvroasting .temperatures needed onaccount of the Vhigh chemical etliciency of the roast: shortv time oftreatment in both vroasting and leaching due to the @use Aof arelatively concentrated .solution of mi'llsolut-ion giving a highchemical ecienoy: large furnace capaoity account ofA relatively shortdurationof treatment necessary: small total amount of mill solutionnecessary -due to the short time of leaching treatment which is rmuired:high capacity of the leaching land as a whole, areas followsz--chloridizplant due to the short time of treatment: practically noloss of values by volatilizatiem-due .to the condensin andcollecting'of'.v

the fumes in ythe mill so ution: no loss of valu@ in the dust, due toltheinoi'stening .of the ore and the .roasting and cooling of the same`vaitlwrut any disturbance of the bed of ore: `great economy of .thechemicals used, due to {the-prevention ofv their loss in roasting andleaching and their .continual resto ration 4to active use in the system.For vei;- ample, the :loss of HC1 is .prevented by condensing the fumesin the .tower and by using the :mill solution from .the leaching andfprecipitating Vdepartments .to meisten the ore before roasting, wherebythe iron salts are decomposed yand .the acid element `caught in thetower :and restored Ato active use again. The loss of chloride .andacids in `the .tailings is v.reduced -to a minimum by meistening the oneAwith a mill solution containing, approximately, enough .of the commonchloride N101, CaCl, Aand MgCl2 -to ybring about chloridizationreactions in the roadsing 4and washing these out after leaching with ainal water wash, which is merel suflicient to make up .the losses in the.mil

solution caused by evaporation in roasting.:

-ibarrels according to the character of the ore.

f By .this method numerous ores from vari- .ous portions of the UnitedStates and Max ico .have l.given 4intim-actions as follows.: gold to95%, silver .80 -to 96%, copper 70 to 98%, lead 90 a 99%.

The Vgreat @economy of 'this method of roastingnanel treating the ore is.ap arent from the above descr! tion, and invo ves a new -.combinationof eatures lnever before secured .in a lmetallurgical process. Itssuccessful .application to lores containing the metals, gold, silver, iter and .lead at the same .time is .a ,remar e Ifeature never yet secured.as .far Aas know-n to me. N umenous tests upon different ores, bothupon .a and large scale, have demonstrated the eiliciency, economy and.practicability .of the process, and the 1st 100 ton unit of a lar-,ge

lant is now in course of erection at Silver ity, Utah, for the.treatment of the `ores -of that district by .this method.

Modifications of .the process, as above-outlined, for an ore ofgold-silvcr-copper-lead readily ada t the process for one .or more theseanota s. For examples-.use of the leaching part of the process, Withoutltheeddition ofchlorin upon ores .containing little or no gold; the use.of leaching lvats for ores containing no ,gold .and .coarse enough forthis purpose.

Some applications .of the process, in part ingroast .of crescent-aimingone .or more of metals 'gold, silver, copper, rlead, and lagitating andleaching Witlna relatively concentrated solution .of one or more .of thefollowing chloride: NaCl, yCamz, M11-C12, containing HCl; .using thesame mill solution for moistening the ore, collecting the acid fumes andleaching the roasted ore, vand vin the .casefof ores containing goldadding, some bleaching powder to the leaching solution to furnishchlorin forthe solution of the gold.

The extractions secured upon relatively 10W grade-ores from `Tintic,Bingham, 'Park City, Cactus, Utah; Pioche, Nev. and other miningdistricts in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, and from Mexico, showextractions as follows: gold 80 to 95%, silver 80 to 96%,o0pper 75 .to98%, lead 80 to 99%.

The roasting process is applicable to ,the chloridizing roast ofsilver-gold ores pre-vious to cyaniding, and to the sulfatizing roast ofAsullid copper ores; .and lto the oxidizing roast of refractory goldores su'ch as those of Mercur and Cripple Cree previous to cyaniding.Tests upon the application of this process to ores containing zinc,

as well as one or more of the above metals,

gives romise of great commercial possibilities. his is true also of theores of nickel which respond readily to this method of treatment,

There are many other applications of\this vprocess to ores and thelikefor roasting and leaching to extract the values therefrom, and forroasting lprevious to the extraction of metal therefrom by suitablemeans'so it is not the intention to be limited to the applicationsherein described but only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

- Having described my invention, I claim 1. In the method of treatingmetalliferous ore, the steps which consist in moistening the crushed oreWith a solution containing at least one reagent adapted to react withthe ore, roasting the ore, condensing the volatilized products and theacid fumes generated in the roast in another portion of the abovereferred to solution, and leaching the metal from the ore with said lastmentioned portion of said solution.

2. In the method of trea-ting metalliferous ore, the steps which consistin moistening thecrushed ore with a solution containing at least one ofthe common chlorids, condensing the volatilized products and acid fumesgenerated in the roast in another portion of the above referred tosolution and leaching the metal from the ore With the last mentionedportion of the solution.

3. In the method of treating metalliferous ore, the steps which consistin moistening the ore with a relatively concentrated solution of areagent adapted to react with the ore, roasting the ore, condensing thevolatilized products and acid fumes generated in the roast in another.portion of the solution, and leaching the metal from the ore with saidlast mentioned portion.

4. In the method of treating metalliferous ore, the steps which consistin moistening the ore With a relatively concentrated solution containingat least one of the common chlorids, roasting the ore, condensing thevolatilized products and acid fumes generated in the roast in' anotherportion of the solution, and leaching the metal from the ore with saidlast mentioned portion.

5. In the method of treating metalliferous ore, the steps which consistin moistening the ore With a portion of a solution containing a reagentin an inactive state adapted to react with the ore, roasting said ore,condensing the volatilized products and acid fumes generated in theroast With another portion of said first mentioned solution, andleaching the metal from the ore With said last mentioned portion of saidsolution.

6.' In the method of treating metalliferous ore, the steps which consistin moistening the ore with a portion of a solution containing at leastone of the common chlorids in erated in theV roast in another portion ofsaid first-mentioned solution, and leaching the metal from the ore withsaid last mentioned portion of said solution.

7. The method of treating metalliferous ore which consists in moisteningthe ore with a portion of relatively concentrated solution containing atleast one reagent adapted to react with the ore, roasting the ore,condensing the volatilized products and acid fumes generated in theroast with another portion of the solution, leaching the metal from theore with the last mentioned portion, Washing the leached ore withsuiicient water to return to the last-mentioned portion of solution theWater lost during the roast, precipitating the leached metal from thelastmentioned portion and using the barren solution in the treatment ofmore ore.

8. The method of treating metalliferous ore which consists in moisteningthe ore with a portion of relatively concentrated solution containing atleast one of the common chlorids, roasting the ore. condensing thevolatilized products and acid fumes generated in the roast with anotherportion of the solution,leaching the metal from the ore with thelastmentioned portion, washing the leached ore With suliicient water toreturn to the last-mentioned portion of solution the Water lost duringthe roast, precipitating the leached metal from the last-mentionedportion and using the barren solution in the treatment of more ore.

9. The method of treating metalliferous ore which comprises moisteningthe ore with a solution containing at least one reagent lovv of a massof ore so treated in stages, subjecting said ore While in one stage andWhen heated to contact with gaseous matter and imparting heat to saidmatter from the ore, and thereafter subjecting another quantity of thesaid ore while in a stage prior to the above referred to, to contactWith the so heated gaseous matter, collecting the volatilized productsand acid fumesfrom the cooled gaseous medium by condensing with aportion of the solution abovereferred to, leaching the metal from saidore with said portion of the solution, and precipitating the metal fromsaid portion and using the same for the treatment of more ore.

10. The process of treating metalliferous ore Which comprises moisteningthe ore With a solution containing at least one reagent adapted to reactwith the ore, and successively subjecting the ore so treate'd to heatling and cooling actions by heating a quaninactive state, roasting saidore, condensing the volatilized product and acid fumes gen adapted toreact with the ore, establishing a.

lacatar-'n nay-ef aan are through tentait with a notI adapted to 'reactexotheimic'ally therewith,

collecting the metallic products and fi'imlb's troni4 scid 'het :gaseousmedium after contact with the'ore by condensing the same 'with a portionof the 'aww-mentioned solution, leaching-the metal 'from 'the ore iandthen precipitating the metal from said" portion and using it 'in thetreatineritoiiiore'ore;

'1:1. 'Il-he process vof treating 7hmetalliferonscre-'whichcomprisesmcigstning theore with a relatively 'concentrated:solution contain. ing at least one Ereagent adapted' to rettetwith-"theore, and successive i subjecting the crc softrcatcdtc-heatngancoating-'actions by heating a quantity-of said 'reftliiughcontactwithahet gaseous medium-anatociiag a so .previously heated quantity ofysaidV ore by bringing it into contact 'withl il zielatively coolgaseous mediumv thereby partly heating 'the lastmentio'ned- Ygaseoiismedium and convertingfsaid-now :partyfheatelase- 111m ous medium intothe hot gaseous lme aforesaid'by reacting upon portions thereof with areagent adapted to reactiexotherfnically therewith,collectingthefmetallic products and acid fumes -rom said 'hot'gaseousmedium after contact with the ore by condensing `the saine with aportion of the leaching the, y metal from the ore with said portion ofthel above mentioned solution,

solution and washing the leached ore with sufficient Water to return tosaid solution the water lost during the roast, then precipitating themetal from said portion and using it 1n the treatment of more ore.

12. The method of treatin ore and the like which comprises establis inga moving bed of ore and treating the ore in said bed in stages avoidingany relative disturbance of the ore particles forming the bed whilepassing through said stages, successively subjecting thev ore in the bedto contact with gaseous reagents having'dierent temperatures and passingthe gaseous reagents surrounding the bed of ore at one stage ontoanother of said stages by passing said gaseous reagent through the bedor ore whilel introducing additional reactive material into thelast-mentioned medium.

13. The method of treating metalliferous material and the like whichcomprises moving the mass of material in a steady stream through adetermined path without changing the relative position of the oreparticles forming the mass constituting the stream, subjecting thematerial disposed at different ptitions i'afeaidifstneam-to contactmehdi/f- "nentfatmcspherea atdifrerent'tem eratures, andjconvertingonejof said atmcsp eres into another by introducing therein Ya fgaseousvreagentfcapable of acting upcn'the ingredients;

oit-'said finassto be treated, said `reagent being extraneous to saidmass.

d4. The' method o@ treating ore which comprises moving -a 'bed lof Oreand the -l-iIk through heating 4and 'cooling stages without relativedisturbance ofthe ore particles foaming fthe bedsubjecting "the i' ore'composingsaid 'bed to beati cand'cooling'actions by heating 'a portin'osaid bedthrou'gh the instrumentality 'of va hdt gaseous medium andcooling a so heated portion of the bed by contactavith a relatively coolgaseous medium and thereby partly heating the latter and converting thelast-mentioned7 and now partlyheated gaseous Imedium intothe het gaseousfmedium aforesaid 'by `reacting uponpoitionsthereof with'a rea-gentadaptedfto react enothermicall-y therewith. f

15. The eprocess of treating orc and the like kwhich 'comprises moving-a bed fof ore withoutmy relative disturbanceof the cre particles'forming 'the bed, 2heating said/ore` by :passing a -hot gaseous lmediumthrough a portion 'of "said 'bed in Athe initial .position thereof andthen heating said'ore by" assin'J Ia relatively cool gaseous 'medium trotig IWW "Pal-'ily heated gaseous medium'into'tlre hot gaseous mediumaforesaid by reacting upon .portionsthereof with, a reagent adapted to-react exothermically therewith, said reagent being introduced betweensuch treatments, one of said gaseous mediums being adapted to rovide areducing atmosphere for the ores in one of such treatments.

16.'. The process of treating ore and the like which comprises moving abed of ore without any relative disturbance of the ore particles formingthe bed, treating said ore by passing a hot gaseous medium through aportion of said bed in the initial position thereof and then heatingsaid ore by assin a relatively cool gaseous medium t roug said portionof the bed. in a second position thereof and thereby heating the lattermedium and converting the last-mentioned and now partly heated gaseousmedium into the hot gaseous medium aforesaid by reacting uion portionsthereof with a reagent adapte to react exothermically therewith, saidreagent being introduced between such treatments, one of said gaseousmediums being adapted t0 provide an oxidizing atmosphere for the ore inone of such treatments.

thereof and then heating said ore by by passing a hot gaseous mediumthrough a portion of said bed 1n the in1t1al position assing arelatively cool gaseous me ium through said portion of the bed 1 n asecond position thereof and thereby heatingv the latter medium and.convertingthe ast-mentioned and now partly heated gaseous medium intothe hot gaseous medium aforesaid by reactin upon portions thereof with areagent a apted to react exothermically therewith, said reagent beingintroduced between such treatments, one of said gaseous mediums beinadapted to provide an oxidizing atmosp ere for the ore in one of suchltreatments and the other of said gaseous mediums being ada ted toprovide a reducing atmosphere for t e ore in the other of ,suchtreatments.

18. lThe process of treating ore and the like which comprises moving abed of ore Without any relative disturbance of the ore articles formingthe bed, heating said ore y passing a -hot gaseous medium through oneportion of the bed in the initial position thereof, and then passingarelatively. cool gaseous medium through Said'portion of the bedinasecond position thereof and thereby heating the latter medium, iowingthe thus partly heated aseous medium toward another portion of t e bedin its first named position, and further heating said gaseous medium byeecting exothermic reactions in the mass of the gaseous medium duringits passage between-,portions of the bed, therebydforming the hotgaseous medium aforesal 19. The process of treating metalliferous oreand the like which comprises moistening the ore with a solutioncontaining at least one reagent adapted ,to react with the ore andsuccessively subjecting the ore so treatved to heating and coolingactions by heating a quantity of said ore by passing a hot gaseousmedium through it, and cooling a so heatedoquantity of said ore byassing a relatively cool gaseous medium t rough it therebypartly-heating the last-mentioned gaseous medium and converting said nowpartly heated gaseous medium into the hot gaseous medium aforesaid byreacting upon portions thereof with a metallurgical reagent adapted toreact exothermically therewith, said reagent being introduced betweenthe heating and cooling stages, collecting the metallic products andacid fumes from said hot gaseous medium after it has passed through theore by condensing the same with a portion of the above mentionedsolution,

leaching the metal from the ore with said portion of the solution, thenprecipitating metal from said portion and using 1t in the treatment ofmore ore.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

NIELS C. CHRISTENSEN, JR.

vWitnesses:

JOHN JENSEN, FRANK E. HOLMAN.

